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Owens Charged with Coming to Court Intoxicated

May 24, 2011

by:

Dwayne Page

A 35 year old man was arrested for public intoxication Friday after he allegedly showed up for court under the influence.

Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that Tyrone Dewayne Owens of Shady Drive, Smithville was scheduled to appear before Criminal Court Judge David Patterson in another case when a deputy noticed him enter the courtroom very unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred. Owens also passed out and was drooling from his mouth. Owens was placed under arrest. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on this charge June 2nd.

Meanwhile, in another case, two men were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allegedly admitting to smoking marijuana in the presence of a seventeen year old female.

Sheriff Ray reports that 18 year old Travis Mark Melton of Johnson Chapel Road, Sparta and 21 year old Jerry Donald Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville will be in court on the charges June 9th. Melton is also charged with driving under the influence. The arrests were made after a traffic stop by a county deputy on Highway 70 last Monday, May 16th. According to Sheriff Ray, Melton was operating a motor vehicle under the influence. He could be seen swerving and he almost rear ended another automobile. The officer pulled him over and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle as he approached. Melton had slurred speech and he submitted to and performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. Melton also submitted to a blood test. Both Melton and Cantrell, a passenger in the vehicle, admitted to smoking marijuana in the presence of a seventeen year old girl, who was also a passenger in the automobile. Bond for Cantrell is $1,000 and $2,500 for Melton.

33 year old Aron Dwayne Ponder of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown was issued a citation on Monday, May 16th for criminal trespassing and littering after Sheriff Ray saw Ponder walk behind the jail and throw down a bag which was found to be a six ounce bag of tobacco. His court date is June 1st.

54 year old Fred T. Dowell of Smith Road, Smithville was issued a citation for failing to give immediate notice of an accident and leaving the scene of an accident. Dowell is also charged with filing a false report. Dowell's bond is set at $2,500 and his court date is June 9th. Sheriff Ray reports that on Thursday, May 12th, Dowell was operating a vehicle on Highway 70 east when he lost control, resulting in an accident. He drove the car to the VFW parking lot where he parked it and left the scene. The deputy, who investigated the accident, later spoke to Dowell who stated that he and a friend had previously borrowed the vehicle from the local Ford dealership, but had returned it, apparently leaving the impression that he was not involved in the accident with the car. The officer learned that Dowell, in fact, had not returned the car, but instead was driving it when it wrecked. A witness saw him walking away from the vehicle after the crash. A computer check revealed that Dowell's drivers license were revoked.

William J. Goodman of Steeple Chase Drive, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on June 2nd. Sheriff Ray reports that on Wednesday, May 18 the sheriff's department received a call to check out a suspicious person at DeKalb Market. After arriving, the officer spoke with Goodman who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Goodman left his vehicle parked crossways of a handicapped parking spot. The automobile also had a tire missing on the front. Goodman was arrested because he was a danger to himself and others. As he was being unloaded at the sally port of the jail, Goodman made an unsuccessful attempt to run past an officer.

45 year old Rhonda Faye Brewer of Swoape Road, McMinnville is charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in court on June 9th. Sheriff Ray reports that on Thursday, May 19 Brewer reported to the jail on a violation of probation. Upon a pat down search, a coffee filter was found in her bra by the correctional officers. When the filter was unfolded, officers found that it contained methamphetamine.

50 year old Sammy Gene Taylor of Winter Drive, Dowelltown is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on June 2nd. Sheriff Ray reports that on Thursday, May 19 the Sheriff's Department received a call about a man lying beside of the road on Winter Drive. Upon arrival, the officer found Taylor passed out beside the road. He had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he could not sit or stand without assistance. He was carried to jail.

40 year old Michael Glen Thomas of West Main Street, Dowelltown is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court on June 9th. Sheriff Ray reports that on Friday, May 20 Thomas was operating a vehicle on Highway 70 when he was stopped for crossing over into the turning lane several times. Thomas had slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet. Thomas performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks and submitted to a blood test.

29 year old Jarred Wayne Newell of Rock Hill, South Carolina is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on June 2nd. According to Sheriff Ray, on Friday, May 20 an officer saw Newell get out of the back seat of a vehicle at DeKalb Market. Newell was very unsteady on his feet. Newell had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he needed assistance to walk. He had been warned earlier in the evening by another officer to stay out of public view.